03. A Foe of Flame
Our last foe was almost comically slothful, but perhaps I would be too if I had flying carpets at my beck and call. Still, she put up a fierce fight, and I shudder to think what might have happened if she took us more seriously. Given how effortlessly she called a rain of fire upon us, I would rather not imagine her in a foul mood.
A legend widely circulated throughout the Near East tells of an ancient Corvosi king who succeeded in bringing a pari under his thrall. He had her craft magicked carpets for his own use, yet knowing the power at the pari's disposal, I struggle to imagine how the king would command her. During my research, I came across other folktales which illustrate elaborate rituals performed when making a pact with fantastic beings. One well-known example consists of three steps: first, one must convey peaceful intent through body language. Second, one must speak a specific set of words. Lastly, one must entertain the being as a final gesture of trust.
Somehow, I wager that the pari we encountered would fall asleep long before such an intricate rite was complete.